Facts: Cigarette Beetles
Name: Lasioderma serricorne
Appearance: Small in size (1/8th inches), and light brown in color. This beetle is notable for its humpbacked appearance.
Habit: Cigarette beetles are stored product pests that are commonly known for damaging tobacco plants. The adult beetle is a strong flyer, often seen on cloudy days or in areas of minimal lighting. These pests are unique in their ability to “play dead” when disturbed in an attempt to fool predators.
Health/Damage Concerns: Cigarette beetles will infest a wide variety of products, contaminating large quantities of food in a short time span. Food production, packaging, and storage facilities should be aware of this pest, as it can cause large amounts of food to be unusable once contaminated.
Diet: Food products such as flour, cereal, pasta, spices and dry pet food are all acceptable for cigarette beetles consumption.
Reproduction: Like many food infesting insects, female Cigarette beetles will lay their eggs directly on food material, allowing larvae to immediately have a meal upon hatching. When the larvae are ready, they will each spin a cocoon and being the process of transforming into an adult beetle. The time it takes for newly hatched larvae to become reproducing adults is between 1 to 3 months depending on environmental conditions, specifically temperature. Insect development slows greatly in cool temperatures, and will often stop completely when the temperature drops below 60 degrees Fahrenheit.
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